robmcg

We have no knowledge of the alleged incident.

Good evening Tony, An interesting and enjoyable post, and I particularly like the reference to obtaining depth-of-field optically rather than digitally. Although I am a mere youngster compared to you, being just turned 71 years, I had a great love of cameras and photography from childhood, the Agfa Clack being my first camera, a hand-me-down from an older brother. Eventually I became a press photographer, and even used my Lieca III bought 2nd-hand in 1968 for about 30 Pounds, what a thing of beauty that was! Made in 1936, spent WW2 in Poland, 50mm Summicron lens, rangefinder 35mm and so compact and strong, lovely. I nevertheless enjoyed doing my job well with quite cheap cameras, and much as I would like a full frame digital I have found my answer in a half frame 31MP Canon M6 MkII with 15-45mm lens... The top end Nikons and even Leicas are things of beauty, as are the best lenses, but fitness for duty is the main thing, short of taking out a mortgage. I would certainly spend on the good stuff if younger and/or professional. . Now just for fun I photograph 00 models as you know, and don't rely on a digital program to stack things for depth of field, I do it manually with re-size, copy and paste, all very fast and flexible when you do it a few times, and am always in awe of your Df and 35mm macro. And just now, just for mischief, made a faux-1930s look at Top Shed... c1935. In no way an historical document, but enjoyable memory of old b+w photos generally. I do hope it does not offend. Very fine Hornby R3840 model too.

I'm very pleased that this addition to the model's packaging has been made, and I do hope the many instances of disappointment described in this thread are reduced or eliminated. Even though my repair to the front wing was rather akin to trying to glue an old family heirloom back together, and is visible from one side, I am pleased to have been spared the broken tender connection, broken or missing steps. Interesting that added foam to better locate the front of the engine has been added. I would have thought that the whole production and packaging run would have been done in one run, a few months ago.

Ah! powders. of course, and they won't remove paint.... thankyou. I did just for my own 'way' of doing things take out the cracks with editing, it took no time at all (for me) and of couse the model is still devalued... Looking at the other side of this model, un-edited, the cracks are all but invisible, and what an impressive engine. Who knows what my R3841 will be like? I currently think the above is very impressive and I'll not send it back, but it depends on how R3841 is, to some degree. In fact I'm moved to say, 'what a stunning model!'

I thought the responsibility in law lay with retailer if goods are faulty. Presumably the retailer eventually achieves redress from Hornby. Simply informing Hornby of damage to this series of models is amply provided by both this forum and shop returns. Future models will perhaps have padding around the chimney, at a guess.

Yes I think a fine abrasive of some type might improve things, cutting compound or similar. I would return it but I am a long way and much bureaucracy away, but I'll Email Hornby probably with photos. I'm curious about the actual prevalence of these occurrences, and Hornby have put a lot of effort into packaging in the past.

Not sure how much such things as drop tests have been done. Nor how useful they are in relation to the modern courier effect or experience. Here is my damaged - repaired W1 Digital cameras are cruel, the damage isn't very obvious to my eyes unless pointed out, and then of course it's difficult to 'un-see'. Magnificent model regardless. Oh and thanks Pete T for clarifying my confusion about steps and Tony Wright's conversation with SK. Clearly I must be more careful.

Airmail to the antipodes is extremely variable in the current world. We'd be looking at 2 months minimum, return. I have a model delivered to NZ Post in the UK (partner to Royal Mail) in early December which hasn't been scanned by NZ Post in the UK yet. Things are in no way 'normal'. If I sell it on it will be described as damaged, and I'll take loss, in preference to waiting months, but if my R3841 is also damaged yes I will return it to my local retailer. True, I can photo-edit these things away, and will.

Sorry, reference removed. Apologies.

My old eyes too. I benefitted from a friend who had a go with polystyrene (old Tamiya 10yrss old and half-empty bottle with brush in screwtop). She had a steadier hand than me, too. There is a visible line but it's a strong repair. Any suggestions for re-finishing around the crack? Smooth runner, seems very good, usual out-of-gauge steps, but not bad to my eye. I presume Hornby know about the housing issue, and steps? I have also bought an R3841 from a local retailer we shall see what unfolds.

My photos show that it was perfectly packed with cushioning on all sides inside a larger box, it was unmarked. No fault there at all. Must have been (unluckily?) transported upright and downward-facing with weight/vibration/impact as in normal transhipment from truck to pallet to aircraft etc. At least the steps are all there.

Bad news my R3840 from TMC arrived well packed, after just month from the UK which is quite good, unmarked inner box, no rattles, I was optimistic. I' took photos of everything to how another successful delivery, but no, it's a lottery. Broken top front, one side loose in plastic housing, one side cracked. Sending back from NZ to the poor retailer isn't very appealing, could take a while with current airmail times, but I'll try to think of what best to do other than bleat. edit, I lack dexterity but a friend glued it on with polystyrene on a brush , a one-chance cure, and there is just-visible line if you look, adjacent to chimney. Two or more months for replacement or refund didn't appeal, and to be honest the repair is not bad Now to find out if it runs well. Photos to follow if requested. Or even if not requested.

I have one arriving soon from TMC and it has been scanned in Auckland, I'm pleased that they have paceked yours very well, I live in hope! Cheers

Ebay sellers appear be achieving UKP260-300 at the moment and sometimes offer good photos of unamaged engines at time of sale, and returns and refunds are more-or-less guaranteed. Regular sellers have reputations to protect, too. Small consolation. I have one stuck in a NZ airport and and quite nervous. As a precaution I bought two in early Dec one hasn't been recorded as leaving Royal Mail's 'partner' yet in the UK. We live in hope.

We are going to get a Hornby Dublo die-cast Castle too... in my opinion.... maybe in 2022 too. Our old Bristol Castle could use a tiny bit of updating...

Ah, a note of welcome levity. Just SO timely in view of the serious nature of the subject, the need for a re-tooled Black 5. Ah, no, wait, Hornby already perfected that one.... I have photos which prove it. Wouldn't it be Luverly. All 29 variants, this year too.

I personally think the Duke and Star are lovely as they are, but then I mess around with photos in lieu of super-detailing them myself. I'm very curious about the new 9F and can't wait to see running samples, I'm expecting something spectacularly good but with finer detail than the Bachmann and thus a greater likelihood of assembly errors and bits falling off, either way I expect to be impressed. Something of A2 quality and of course the green for 92220, There will have to be a lot of variations to match Bachmann, Hornby say they are doing five tenders.... A factory-weathered version is my impossible dream, but there's always my paintbrush, or any of several excellent aftermarket weathering people, take a bow toboldlygo, TMC and others. Here is a photo of how a super-detailed Duke could look. It is based on a TMC-weathered Hornby version, with liberal use of PSP6 computer 'art'. The model looks very good to my eye though, even without my additions. If Hornby were to do a B16 I can hear the cries already, 'not the version I need'. Happy New Year all from NZ.

Good evening Tony, I greatly enjoy the esoterica to be found in your thread, and your intelligent and kind tolerance of the many different subjects covered, lately to do with goods train details, and always in support of good modelling. In view of my limitations, a result of serioius injuries, I cannot do much more than box-opening but my 'modelling' as such is with my laptop and RTR models placed on a desk. Thus I submit a picture I created some time ago and looked at it yesterday and thought, "I did that", which in a sense is my 'modelling'. Hornby rebuilt Royal Scot 46103 'Royal Scots Fusilier' thundering by headed by Patricoft Black 5 44731 both in early 60s BR condition. As ever, your thread is entertaining and instructive, full of wisdom and intelligence, please keep it going. The photo below is perhaps best viewed full screen with a large dollop of suspension of disbelief. Aplogies for errors here and there, it is a rather extreme crop. Best New Year wishes to all. Robbie

The other side of A2/3 LNER 514 'Chamossaire'. Slightly edited. Well-pleased with depth-of-field in this desktop shot. Impressive model!

Thanks, I hear you've had some pretty awful trials with a serious stroke and I'm glad you are still with us.

In view of having not yet received a Hush Hush I exhumed an example of what I consider to be one of the most outstanding RTR OO models ever, the Hornby Thompson A2/2 and A2/3. In fact it might have some things in common with the W1 hush hush, sometimes poor assembly and/or damage in transit, but I have all 6 A2s and all were undamaged except for minor, fixable things, I'm hoping for the same with W1 R3840! I was experimenting with my other favourite toys, cameras, and took this below of A2/3 LNER 514 'Chamossaire', which I think is lovely. All in the quest for more depth of field in photos of models, for those who are interested, Canon M6 MkII 31MP 'half-frame' camera. standard 15-45mm zoom. ISO 100, Aperture priority, delayed release, camera on table, 25 secs at F36 , focal length 41mm. Reading lamp and window light. No particular editing. Sharpened a tad. Happy festive season all. Then, because I was trying to do a 'scientific' comparison between the above M6 camera and the much cheaper 24MP M200 camera, I did this, below, with almost identical settings, but somewhat later, with the relationship brween engine and camera slightly different... Canon M200 on aperture priority, delayed release, 25 secs at F36 ISO100.. Nothing like a bit of science eh? I'd love to see a Gresley V2 to compare!

What an astonishingly fine photograph Tony. 'Out-of-gauge' footrests notwithstanding the composition and lighting really are top-notch. The colours, lining and detail, all as near perfect as one could wish, and as a fellow photographer with far less experience and 'nous' than you I know just how hard it is to acheive that balance between what the eye sees and the camera lens 'sees'. You get so much out of that full frame Nikon and lenses! Thankyou. (I have two W1s on the way from the UK... if one is damaged I can assess the situation and go from there).

Interesting that the models which have been removed from packaging and photographed and are demonstrably undamaged get better prices than the unopened ones. The reverse is often the case on Ebay. Ii think you might fluke a purchase by bidding on a low reserve version, but all the 'buy now' offers are over UKP299, at a quick look just now,.

Well the going rate for a R3840 W1 Hush Hush on Ebay appears to be somewhere around UKP290-300. There was one from a well-known good retailer at UKP249 free postage just an hour ago but when I refreshed the page it had gone. You've got to be quick!

One of the R3840s on offer on Ebay , one of the few which has been taken out of its box for photos, has a shot of the engine on its side and one footrest looks particulary 'splayed out'... so whether this a typical assembly issue or design issue I would not know. It would be vulnerable to hurried packing damage, or subsequent shocks and vibration, and given that in most cases where the step is missing it is not in the packaging one can only blame the factory, alas.